The Diamond Approach is the spiritual path of the Ridhwan School. Participating in a Diamond Approach group is the primary way of engaging the Diamond Approach path.
Groups provide a stable, ongoing community where 50-150 students learn and develop together, often for many years. In this spirit, dedicated teachers help guide group members on their spiritual journey in three formats. This structure creates a strong field of guidance for inner work and provides a supportive environment that helps balance our often-busy lives “in the world."
The three formats of a Diamond Approach group are:
- Large group sessions: Led by 1-4 teachers, these sessions include a teaching, a meditation period, inquiry exercises with your fellow group members, and an opportunity to ask questions and explore your experience with the group’s teacher(s). All our groups meet for large group sessions either on weekends 6-11 times per year or for week-long retreats 1-2 times per year.
- Small group sessions: These are subgroups of the whole group, each bringing together 15-20 consistent students. Small groups are another layer of support that can take students more deeply into the immediacy of their individual experience without the structure of a specific teaching. It is simply about where you are now, in this moment. The frequency of these meetings differs between groups. Within this shared field, students get to experience and know each other in more true and meaningful ways.
- One-on-one sessions: The steady, individual support offered through private sessions is considered “the heart” of our inner work and essential for helping students reconnect with their authentic nature. Sessions are specifically tailored to a student’s particular needs and level of development. They are designed to help students navigate their individual experience to reveal the underlying meaning and depth of that experience. Sessions take place once a month or every other week depending on the student’s needs and schedule.
Our global list of open groups is below. We’ll ask you to fill out an application to explore if joining an ongoing group at this time is a good fit. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
Open Groups
To apply to a group, select the group you wish to join. Next, reach out to the group’s teachers to express your interest. If you have the ability to travel, you can join any group you can travel to. If you don’t see a group in your area, please join our interest list to be contacted when a new group opens in your region.
| Group Name | Frequency | Location | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | |||
| Diamond Approach Weekend Group Frankfurt | 4 weekends and 1 retreat a year | Frankfurt, Germany | German |
| Diamond Approach Leipzig | 4 weekend retreats a year | Leipzig, Germany | German |
| Diamond Approach Weekend Group DAWID Hamburg 2 | 4 weekends a year | Hamburg, Germany | German |
| Diamond Heart United Kingdom | 4 weekends a year | London, United Kingdom | English |
| 2 seven-day retreats a year | Seefeld, Northern Germany | English | |
| Diamant Hart Nederland 2 | 2 five-day retreats and 2 weekends a year | Elspeet (Mennorode), The Netherlands | Nederlands |
| 3 retreats a year | Istanbul, Turkey | English | |
| Australia/New Zealand | |||
| Diamond Approach Australia | 3 times a year | Sydney, Australia | English |
| 3 mini retreats per year | Auckland, New Zealand | English | |
| United States | |||
| Diamond Approach Amherst | 4-5 times a year | Amherst, MA | English |
| Midwest Diamond Approach 4 | 4 times a year | Williard, WI | English |
| Colorado Diamond Heart 10 | 6 times a year | Boulder, CO | English |
| Gulf Coast Diamond Approach 5 | 4-5 times a year | Houston and Dallas, TX | English |
| Diamond Approach Philadelphia 2 | 4 times a year | Philadelphia, PA | English |
| Diamond Approach Arizona | 4 times a year | Prescott and Phoenix, AZ | English |
| Diamond Approach Florida | 3 times a year, online in-between | Tampa, FL | English |
| 6 weekends a year | New York, NY | English | |
| 6 weekends a year | Ann Arbor, MI | English | |
| Canada | |||
| 4 times a year | Ottawa, ON | English | |
| Primarily on zoom with 1 annual retreat per year | Ottawa, ON | English | |
| Asia | |||
| Diamond Approach Asia |
2 times a year for 7 days with an option to attend 5 days for the second retreat |
Chaing Mai, Thailand | English |
| 3 retreats a year | Istanbul, Turkey | English | |
| South Africa | |||
| Diamond Approach Africa | 5 weekends a year | Cape Town and Johannesburg | English |
Join the New Group Interest List
If there is not an open group near you, here are additional options:
- Join our new group interest list
- Explore our online offerings at Diamond Approach Online
- Look for public events and retreats on our Public Events List